Five Favorites - Summer Edition III
1. Lace Tablecloths
A friend gave me two old tablecloths from her mom who passed away a few years ago, and inspired by some French influencers on social media, I have been having fun turning them into garments. It has been an interesting challenge to make patterns work with the design of the tablecloth, and I have made two tops and a skirt so far, with enough left to make one more garment… I’m taking my time thinking about what I want to do with the last bit!
2. Big Boy 4014 Steam Engine
I got to go see the biggest steam engine on the way back from its eastern tour when it stopped in Indiana. It was an incredibly hot day (I didn’t wear anything I made, because I was pretty sure in advance anything I wore would be going straight into the wash when we got home), but so worth it! It was so fun to see an engine that size in motion, as it’s an amazing piece of history.
3. The Richest Man in Babylon
This book is one I really enjoyed and found myself rationing how much I could read every day so as to make it last. I found it in a small bookshop at the bottom of Macy’s when I was in Chicago in January, and I’m really glad I didn’t pass it up. It was written 100 years ago, and has very good, relevant, practical financial advise about saving money and preparing for the future, told through parables set in ancient Babylon that were fun to read, but also easily communicated the ideas. It was a short read, only 100 pages or so, and definitely worth it!
4. Linen.
I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I absolutely love linen for warmer weather! I have made couple items already, and I have more planned, because I just love the effortless and chic look of linen. I’ve been seeing some cute, casual tops around, and felt the need to try my hand at making some… the one above us from Simplicity 3141.
5. Whipped Shortbread Cookies.
Ever had Trader Joe’s chocolate covered shortbread cookies? I LOVE them, but they are a seasonal item, so I went looking for a recipe to make them at home any time I want, since they only sell them in the fall and winter. Traditional shortbread was too heavy, but then I came across a recipe for Whipped Shortbread, and that was much closer. I modified the one I found, and this is the recipe:
1 cup Butter
1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
2 TBL Corn Starch
2 cups Flour
Chocolate chips (I prefer bittersweet, but you can use whatever you like best!)
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. In a mixing bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar thoroughly. Add salt, cornstarch and flour and mix until combined. Shape into small balls (size of a quarter or so) and flatten to about 3/8” thick. Bake at 325 degrees F for 18-25 minutes. Top with a few chocolate chips as soon as they come out of the oven, and spread around once they’re melted. Enjoy!
